Golf bag and fixing device for stand of the golf bag

ABSTRACT

A golf bag has a bag body, a stand assembly, and at least one fixing device. An end of the stand assembly is pivotally mounted on an outer surface of the bag body. The fixing device is connected to the bag body and the stand assembly. The fixing device is a belt and has a bag body end mounted on the bag body and a stand end mounted on the stand assembly. A maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is selectively fixed so that the fixing device is capable of making the stand assembly unable to pivot away from the bag body when the maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is fixed, thereby preventing the loosened stand assembly from swaying arbitrarily with respect to the bag body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a component of sports equipment, especially to a fixing device for a stand of a golf bag.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

A golf bag is made for loading golf equipment such as golf clubs, and is mainly designed with double or single shoulder strap for a user to carry. A conventional golf bag has a bag body and a stand assembly having at least one stand and at least one stand retracting device. An end of the stand is pivotally mounted on the bag body so that the stand can be pivotally unfolded relative to the bag body, thereby allowing a user to stably incline and place the golf bag on the ground for use. The stand retracting device is an elastic rod connected between the bag body and the stand. When the stand is unfolded relative to the bag body, the stand retracting device flexes by its own elasticity and supports the stand. When the stand is not in use, the stand retracting device pulls the stand toward the bag body by its own elasticity to make the stand abut on the bag body.

However, after long time of use, the pivoting structure between the stand and the bag body will be loosened and the stand retracting device will be worn out or suffer from elastic fatigue, and therefore the stand retracting device loses the effect of keeping the stand abutting on the bag body. As a result, when the user is carrying the golf bag, the stand will sag under the gravity and sway relative to the bag body, such that the stand ends up hitting the bag body and making noises. Besides, when the stand is unfolded relative to the bag body and abuts the ground, the loosened pivoting structure and the elastically fatigued stand retracting device will not be able to stably fix the angle between the stand and the bag body, so the stand becomes unable to stably support the bag body, which may cause the bag body to fall over.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a golf bag and a fixing device for a stand of the golf bag to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a golf bag and a fixing device for a stand of the golf bag, wherein the fixing device is capable of binding a stand assembly and making the stand assembly unable to pivot relative to the bag body. Therefore by connecting the stand assembly and the bag body with the fixing device, the present invention prevents the loosened stand assembly from swaying arbitrarily with respect to the bag body. Besides, by mounting the fixing device on both the stand assembly and the strap, the fixing device will be pulled synchronously as the user pulls the strap to carry the golf bag, so that the stand assembly can be pulled toward the bag body and bound to the bag body firmly during carrying.

The golf bag has a bag body, a stand assembly, and at least one fixing device. An end of the stand assembly is pivotally mounted on an outer surface of the bag body. The at least one fixing device is connected to the bag body and is connected to the stand assembly. Each of the at least one fixing device is a belt and has a bag body end and a stand end. The bag body end is mounted on the bag body. The stand end is mounted on the stand assembly. A maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is selectively fixed so that each of the at least one fixing device is capable of making the stand assembly unable to pivot away from the bag body when the maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is fixed.

Since a maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is selectively fixed, by mounting the bag body end of the fixing device on the bag body and mounting the stand end of the fixing device on the stand assembly, the fixing device will be capable of binding the stand assembly and making the stand assembly unable to pivot relative to the bag body when the maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is fixed. Therefore, the present invention prevents the loosened stand assembly from swaying arbitrarily with respect to the bag body.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a golf bag in accordance with the present invention, showing the stand assembly folded;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of the first embodiment of the golf bag in FIG. 1, showing the stand assembly folded;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the golf bag in FIG. 1, showing the stand assembly unfolded;

FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged side view of the first embodiment of the golf bag in FIG. 1, showing the stand assembly unfolded;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the golf bag in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fixing device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the fixing device in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a first embodiment of a golf bag in accordance with the present invention comprises a bag body 10, a stand assembly 20, and at least one fixing device 30.

In the first embodiment, the bag body 10 has a main body 11 and a strap assembly 12. The strap assembly 12 is connected to the main body 11, and the strap assembly 12 has a strap 121.

An end of the stand assembly 20 is pivotally mounted on an outer surface of the bag body 10. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the stand assembly 20 has two stands 21 and two stand retracting devices 22. Each of the two stands 21 is a rod. An end of each of the two stands 21 is pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the bag body 10. The two stand retracting devices 22 are respectively connected to the two stands 21 and are flexible. The two stand retracting devices 22 are configured to make the two stands 21 abut on the outer surface of the bag body 10. The structure of the stand assembly 20 is not limited thereto, as the stand assembly 20 can also be implemented with only one stand 21 and only one stand retracting device 22 in other embodiments.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the at least one fixing device 30 is connected to the bag body 10 and is connected to the stand assembly 20. Specifically, in the first embodiment, an amount of the at least one fixing device 30 is two, and the two fixing devices 30 are respectively connected to the two stands 21 of the stand assembly 20. But in other embodiments, the amount of the at least one fixing device 30 can also be one, and in that case the fixing device 30 is connected to one of the two stands 21 and the bag body 10. Each of the at least one fixing device 30 is a belt and has a bag body end 31 and a stand end 32.

The bag body end 31 is mounted on the bag body 10. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the bag body ends 31 of the two fixing devices 30 are mounted on the strap assembly 12 of the bag body 10, and more specifically are mounted on the strap 121 of the strap assembly 12. But in other embodiments, the bag body ends 31 of the two fixing devices 30 can also be directly fixed to the outer surface of the bag body 10.

The stand end 32 is mounted on the stand assembly 20. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the stand ends 32 of the two fixing devices 30 are respectively mounted on the two stands 22 of the stand assembly 20. A maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31 is selectively fixed, so that each of the at least one fixing device 30 is capable of making the stand assembly 20 unable to pivot away from the bag body 10 when the maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31 is fixed. In other words, since a length of the belt-type fixing device 30 is selectively fixed, when the length of the fixing device 30 is fixed and the two ends of the fixing device 30, which are the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31, are respectively mounted on the bag body 10 and the stand assembly 20, the stand assembly 20 will be restricted by the length of the fixing device 30, thereby being unable to pivot away from the bag body 10.

With further reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, specifically, in the first embodiment, the fixing device 30 further has a first segment 331, a second segment 332, a male buckle 341, a female buckle 342, a stand surrounding segment 351, a stand snap button 352, a bag body surrounding segment 361, and a bag body snap button 362.

The bag body end 31 is formed on the first segment 331, and the stand end 32 is formed on the second segment 332. The male buckle 341 is mounted on the first segment 331, and in the first embodiment, the male buckle 341 has an adjusting segment. The first segment 331 is moveably mounted in the adjusting segment, and is selectively fixed to the adjusting segment, so that the male buckle 341 is capable of moving toward or away from the bag body end 31 on the first segment 331, and is capable of being fixed relative to the bag body end 31 on the first segment 331. The female buckle 342 is mounted on the second segment 332 and detachably buckles the male buckle 341.

The stand surrounding segment 351 is formed on the stand end 32 and surrounds the stand assembly 20, and specifically surrounds one of the stands 21 of the stand assembly 20 in the first embodiment. The stand snap button 352 is securely mounted on the stand surrounding segment 351 and the stand end 32, and selectively buckles the stand surrounding segment 351 and the stand end 32, so that the fixing device 30 is detachably mounted on the stand assembly 20 by the stand surrounding segment 351 and the stand snap button 352. The bag body surrounding segment 361 is formed on the bag body end 31, and surrounds the strap assembly 12. The bag body snap button 362 is securely mounted on the bag body surrounding segment 361 and the bag body end 31, and selectively buckles the bag body surrounding segment 361 and the bag body end 31, so that the fixing device 30 is detachably mounted on the strap assembly 12 by the bag body surrounding segment 361 and the bag body snap button 362. In addition, the stand snap button 352 and the bag body snap button 362 can also be implemented as hook buckles, ring buckles, or hook and loop fasteners, as long as the implemented component is able to respectively fix the stand surrounding segment 351 and the bag body surrounding segment 361 after surrounding the bag body and the stand assembly 20.

With the structure of the fixing device 30 as mentioned above, when the bag body 10 needs to be pivotally unfolded relative to the bag body 10, the fixing device 30 is adapted to be separated into two segments via the first segment 331, the second segment 332, the male buckle 341, and the female buckle 342 to make the maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31 become unlimited, thereby removing the restriction on the stand assembly 20. Additionally, when the stand assembly 20 needs to be bound, the separated fixing device 30 is assembled by buckling the male buckle 341 and the female buckle 342 to fix the maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31, thereby restricting the stand assembly 20 and making the stand assembly 20 unable to pivot away from the bag body 10. Moreover, the length of the fixing device 30 can be adjusted by selectively fixing the adjusting segment of the male buckle 341 and the first segment 331. Further, with the stand surrounding segment 351 and the bag body surrounding segment 361 surrounding the corresponding parts, and the stand snap button 352 and the bag body snap button 362 respectively buckling the two surrounding segments, the bag body end 31 and the stand end 32 can be detachably mounted on the bag body 10 and the stand assembly 20, respectively.

The structure of the fixing device 30 is not limited to the above mentioned in other embodiments, as the fixing device 30 can be implemented without the first segment 331, the second segment 332, the male buckle 341, the female buckle 342, the stand surrounding segment 351, the stand snap button 352, the bag body surrounding segment 361, and the bag body snap button 362, but is implemented as a length-fixed belt respectively fixed to the bag body 10 and the stand assembly with two ends, thereby achieving the same effect of restricting the stand assembly 20 and making the stand assembly 20 unable to pivot away from the bag body 10.

With further reference to FIG. 5, a structure of a second embodiment is basically the same as the first embodiment, and the differences are as follows. In the second embodiment, the strap assembly 12A has a connector 121A, two straps 122A, and two connecting belts 123A. An end of each of the straps 122A is connected to the connector 121A, and another end of each of the straps 122A is connected to the main body 11A. An end of each of the connecting belts 123A is connected to the connector 121A, and another end of each of the connecting belts 123A is connected to the main body 11A. Further, in the second embodiment, the bag body end 31 of the fixing device 30A is mounted on one of the two connecting belts 121A. In other words, the bag body 10A is implemented with double straps in the second embodiment, thereby allowing a user to carry the bag body 10A with both shoulders. In the first embodiment, the bag body is implemented with one single strap, thereby allowing the user to carry the bag body with one shoulder.

Since a maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31 is selectively fixed, by mounting the bag body end 31 of the fixing device 30 on the bag body 10 and mounting the stand end 32 of the fixing device 30 on the stand assembly 20, the fixing device 30 will be capable of binding the stand assembly 20 and making the stand assembly 20 unable to pivot relative to the bag body 10 when the maximum distance between the stand end 32 and the bag body end 31 is fixed. Therefore, the present invention prevents the loosened stand assembly 20 from swaying arbitrarily with respect to the bag body 10.

Besides, by the two ends of the fixing device 30 respectively mounted on the stand assembly 20 and the bag body 10, the fixing device 30 will be pulled synchronously when the user pulls the strap 121 to carry the golf bag. Therefore, during carrying, the stand assembly 20 can be pulled toward the bag body 10 and be firmly bound to the bag body 10 automatically without the need to manually adjust the length of the fixing device 30.

Furthermore, a junction of the stand end 32 of the fixing device 30 and the stand 21 is below a junction of the stand retracting device 22 and the stand 21. In other words, on the stand 21, the junction of the fixing device 30 and the stand 21 is farther away from a pivoting end where the stand 21 is pivotally mounted on the bag body 10, thereby allowing the fixing device 30 to pull the stand 21 with a longer moment arm to bind the stand 21 with less effort.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fixing device adapted to be mounted on a golf bag; the golf bag having a bag body and a stand assembly; the fixing device being a band and comprising: a bag body end adapted to be mounted on the bag body; and a stand end adapted to be mounted on the stand assembly; a maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end being selectively fixed so that the fixing device is capable of making the stand assembly unable to pivot away from the bag body when the maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is fixed.
 2. The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing device further has a first segment; the bag body end formed on the first segment; a second segment; the stand end formed on the second segment; a male buckle mounted on the first segment; and a female buckle mounted on the second segment and detachably buckling the male buckle.
 3. The fixing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the male buckle has an adjusting segment; and the first segment is moveably mounted through the adjusting segment and is selectively fixed to the adjusting segment, so that the male buckle is capable of moving toward or away from the bag body end on the first segment, and is capable of being fixed relative to the bag body end on the first segment.
 4. The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing device further has a stand surrounding segment formed on the stand end and adapted to surround the stand assembly; and a stand snap button securely mounted on the stand surrounding segment and the stand end, and selectively buckling the stand surrounding segment and the stand end, so that the fixing device is detachably mounted on the stand assembly by the stand surrounding segment and the stand snap button.
 5. The fixing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixing device further has a stand surrounding segment formed on the stand end and adapted to surround the stand assembly; and a stand snap button securely mounted on the stand surrounding segment and the stand end, and selectively buckling the stand surrounding segment and the stand end, so that the fixing device is detachably mounted on the stand assembly by the stand surrounding segment and the stand snap button.
 6. The fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag body has a strap assembly; and the bag body end of the fixing device is adapted to be mounted on the strap assembly of the bag body.
 7. The fixing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bag body has a strap assembly; and the bag body end of the fixing device is adapted to be mounted on the strap assembly of the bag body.
 8. The fixing device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing device further has a bag body surrounding segment formed on the bag body end and adapted to surround the strap assembly; and a bag body snap button securely mounted on the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body end, and selectively buckling the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body end, so that the fixing device is detachably mounted on the strap assembly by the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body snap button.
 9. The fixing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing device further has a bag body surrounding segment formed on the bag body end and adapted to surround the strap assembly; and a bag body snap button securely mounted on the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body end, and selectively buckling the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body end, so that the fixing device is detachably mounted on the strap assembly by the bag body surrounding segment and the bag body snap button.
 10. A golf bag comprising: a bag body; a stand assembly; an end of the stand assembly pivotally mounted on an outer surface of the bag body; at least one fixing device connected to the bag body and connected to the stand assembly; each of the at least one fixing device being a belt and having a bag body end mounted on the bag body; and a stand end mounted on the stand assembly; a maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end being selectively fixed so that each of the at least one fixing device is capable of making the stand assembly unable to pivot away from the bag body when the maximum distance between the stand end and the bag body end is fixed.
 11. The golf bag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the stand assembly has two stands; each of the stands being a rod; an end of each of the stands pivotally mounted on the outer surface of the bag body; two stand retracting devices respectively connected to the two stands and being flexible; the two stand retracting devices configured to make the two stands abut on the outer surface of the bag body; an amount of the at least one fixing device is two, and the stand ends of the two fixing devices are respectively mounted on the two stands.
 12. The golf bag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the bag body has a main body; and a strap assembly connected to the main body; the bag body end of the at least one fixing device mounted on the strap assembly.
 13. The golf bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bag body has a main body; and a strap assembly connected to the main body; the bag body end of the at least one fixing device mounted on the strap assembly.
 14. The golf bag as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strap assembly has a strap; and the bag body end of the at least one fixing device is mounted on the strap.
 15. The golf bag as claimed in claim 13, wherein the strap assembly has a strap; and the bag body end of the at least one fixing device is mounted on the strap.
 16. The golf bag as claimed in claim 12, wherein the strap assembly has a connector; two straps; an end of each of the two straps connected to the connector; another end of each of the two straps connected to the main body; two connecting belts; an end of each of the two connecting belts connected to the connector; another end of each of the two connecting belts connected to the main body; the bag body end of the at least one fixing device is mounted on one of the two connecting belts.
 17. The golf bag as claimed in claim 13, wherein the strap assembly has a connector; two straps; an end of each of the two straps connected to the connector; another end of each of the two straps connected to the main body; two connecting belts; an end of each of the two connecting belts connected to the connector; another end of each of the two connecting belts connected to the main body; the bag body end of the at least one fixing device is mounted on one of the two connecting belts. 